Socket insulator for panel supported lamp



June 4, 1968 A. w. EARLEYWINE, JR 3,387,255

SOCKET INSULATOR FOR PANEL SUPPORTED LAMP Filed oct. 21. 196e @m Z, Ef Z f@ w one end. The housingis snap United States Patent O ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to securing an insulator to a thin tubular lamp housing by sliding the housing between concentric wall portions on the insulator and engaging slots in the housing with lugs disposed between the wall portions.

This invention relates in general to panel mounted lamps and more particularly to an improved socket insulator for a snap-in panel supported lamp assembly.

Snap-in panel supported lamp assemblies of the type with which the present invention is concerned usually comprise an annular metal ,housing having a window at fitted into the front of the panel opening with the window adjacent the panel.-The other end of the housing engages an insulator socket in a lamp assembly behind the panel and the lamptransmits l* light through the window for signalling. The insulator i .socket includesspacedcircumferential walls between which the housing engagesfor frictionally holding the lamp assembly.

The problem arisesin partbecause of the need to slot the outer spaced wall of theinsulator socket, as slotting relieves the strain on the walls when receiving the housing. Thermal expansion and contraction initiated either by the lamp or ambient conditions or vibration alsostrain the spaced walls and .eventually the lamp assembly under inuence of these conditions Vfalls free of the housing.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a snap-in panel supported la'rnp assembly having improved means for retaining'the lamp in its snpported position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide economical retaining means ona socket insulator used to support a lamp assembly on a snap-in panel housing.

Basically, the primary object of the present invention is accomplished by the unique provision of simple integral lugs between the two spaced walls. The lugs are resistant to longitudinal extension for preventing undesired separai inner annular wall 62 substantially 1,442" thick and whose tion of the walls while at the same time theyprovide a mechanical attachment for'the housing and permit the sections of the outer wall sufficient flexibility Ato receive v the housing.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent on examination of the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein: j

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a lamp assembly and a portion of a panel in which the assembly is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a lamp assembly taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view partially broken away to illustrate the lamp socket assembly and housing; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section for 65 illustrating the manner in the engagement between the housing and'lamp socket insulator.

ln FIGS. Y1 and 2 a lamp assembly, indicated generally by the reference character 10, is seated in the opening of a panel indicated by the reference 'character 12.

The assembly 10 comprises an annular metal housing 14 having a peripheral flange 16 at one end. A glass or ice plastic window 18 is engaged against one side of the flange 16 and the window is held engaged with the flange by a bezel 20 having an annular recess in which the flange and window are seated. The recess edge is crimped over the flange 16 to secure the housing, window and bezel in a unitary assembly.

A sheet metal bushing or ring 22 having axially projecting spring fingers 24 is press fitted over the sleeve 14 and abuts the side of the flange 16 opposite window 18. The spring fingers 24 are deformed somewhat for detachably securing the housing 14 in panel 12 to provide a so-called snap-fit in the panel opening. A rearward projection 26 on the bezel 20 is aligned with a notch adjacent the panel opening to ensure the lamp assembly 10 is properly positioned. A peripheral shoulder 28 on the bezel engages against the panel 12 to limit the rearward movement of the assembly 10.

The end of the sleeve 14 opposite flange 16 carries a lamp socket assembly 30. The assembly 30 comprises an outer plastic shell or socket insulator 32 usually of nylon which is dimensionally matable. The shell 32 is generally cup-shaped with a back wall 34 in which a central opening is formed. The back wall 34 of the shell is nested bevvtween the back wall of a cup-shaped internal metal sleeve 36 and a ring terminal 38 to which an electrical conductor 40 is fastened by means of a tab 42. An eyelet 44, which is inserted through the terminal 38 and the back walls of shell 32 and sleeve 36 and then spread serves to hold the terminal 38, shell 32 and sleeve 36 securely in position with an electrical connectionr exteuded.t0...th.e. I mtlley. 63 Another electrical conductor 46 passes'through an electrically insulating tube 48 which in turn extends through the eyelet 44 and is encircled by sleeve 36. The conducf tor 46 isv fastened to a metal tab 50 whose widened end is seated against an internal shoulder at the end of tube 48 opposite conductor 46. An external shoulder 52 on l the tube 48 engages a coil spring 54 located between the shoulder 52 and the'eyelet 44 to bias the tube 48 and tab 50 toward window 18 and enable the socket assembly 30 to receive a bayonet type lamp 56.

The lamp 56 has conventional metal lugs 58 extending from'a metal jacket portion 60 of the lamp. The lugs 58 engage conventional l or T type axial slots in the sleeve 36 in which they are securely held by pressure of spring 54 in a conventional bayonet type lock. An electrical connection is extended through the lamp from conductor 40, tab 42, eyelet 44 and sleeve 36 to tab 50 and conductor 46 by means of the jacket 60, the lamp filament and the i central rear terminal on lamp 56 engaging tab 50.

The cup-shaped socket insulator 32 comprises a first internal diameter is about .4 to conform closely to the outer surface of sleeve mately .45". A second annular wall 64, approximately .02" thick, isintegrally formed on insulator socket 32. The second annular wall 64 is spaced radially outwardly of the inner annular Wall portion 62 and is joined thereto by a radial back wall-66. located about .14" from the open end of Wall 62.`The wall portion 64 extends for 1A andtapers axially inward of approximately .5" at its back end to an inner diameter off .485" at its open end. Axial slots 68 at 90 to each other are provided in wall 64 to divide the wall into four sections and permit the sections to deform for yreceiving the .5" O.D. open end. of housing 14 which may be bevelled at its open end to facilitate entry between walls 62 and 64. The end of wall 64 overlaps the open end of wall 62 and serves to guide the housing 14. Housing 14 is first fitted between the wall sections after drawing the lamp socket assembly through the `panel opening or by inserting the housing through the opening,

36 for the wall length of approxi.

froman inner diameter 62 and 64 either i imWhat-'isclaimedis;

Y. I 1. A socket insulator for engagementwith `a'lamp' depending on convenience and then the housing is snap litted into the panel opening.

Joining the inner and outer wall portions 6,2 and 64 at respective positions 180 from each other and intermediate a respective pair of slots are two integrally formed cylindrical pins or lugs 70. Lugs 70 are substantially .06" diameter and .02" long with their central axis approximately 1de" from the open end of wall 62. The diameter to length ratio provides considerable resistance to tlexure or longitudinal movement in the wall portions adjacent the lugs.

Lugs 70 thus serve to hold the two opposite sections of wall 64 from spreading beyond the outer diameter of housing 14 under the aforementioned causes and prevents separation of the housing and socket insulator. Since two of the sections of wall 64 are free of the restraint provided by lugs 70, they llex more easily to facilitate engagement of the housing 14 between walls 62 and 64. In addition the spacing of lugs 70 from the radial wall 66 permits the lugs to engage either I or T type slots such as 72 formed at the open end of housing 14 and provide a mechanical interlock between the insulator socket and the housing.

To facilitate economical fabrication of the lugs 70, passageways 74 are provided in the back radial wall 64 joining wall 64 to wall 62. This permits insertion and retraction of a mold section from between walls 62. and 64 so that the necessity for side cores is eliminated and the g accompanying claims.

whose inventive concepts are believed set forth'in, the' housing having a peripheral -wall within which'a. lamp carried by said insulator is received for transmitting light through a panel opening in which said housing is engaged with the end of said peripheral wall receiving said lamp having slots therein, the improvement comprising a iirst peripheral wall portion on said insulator for receipt within lamp receiving end of said housing wall1 a second peripheral wall portion integrally formed on said insulator and spaced radially outwardly of said first wall portion and axially extending toward the end of said first wall portion recevied in said housing, whereby the wall of said housing is received between said first and second annular wall portions for frictional engagement with said wall portions, and integral formed lugs between said first and second wall portions spaced for preventing loss of said frictional engagement between said housing from said insulator and engaging said slots to provide a mechanical interlock between said housing and insulator.

2. In the socket insulator claimed in claim 1, a radial wall integrally formed on said insulator for joining said first and second peripheral wall portions, and a passageway in said radial wall for each lug to enable said lugs to be integrally moulded with said tirst and second wall portions without mold side cores.

3. A socket insulator for engagement with a lamp housing having an open end in which a lamp carried by said insulator is received for transmitting light through a panel opening in which said housing is'engaged, the improvement comprising a first peripheral wall portion on said insulator for receipt in the open end of said housing, a second peripheral wall portion comprising a plurality of sections integrally formed on said insulator and spaced'radially outwardly of said first wall portion and axially extending toward the end of said rst wall portion received in said housing, whereby the wall of said housing is received between said rst and second annular wall portions for Yfrictional engagement with said wall portions, and integrally formed lugs between said rst and second wall portions spaced for preventing loss of said frictional engagement between said housing from said insulator.

4. A lamp socket assembly for engagement with an annular lamp housing adapted to be snap lit into a panel opening and having an open end with axially extending either T or J type slots in the wall of said housing at said open end, the improvement comprising a cup-shaped insulator having a first annular wall portion wit-h an open end, an internal metal sleeve fixed to said insulator for carrying a lamp in said open end, means including said sleeve for extending electrical connections through said insulator to said lamp, a radial wall section integrally formed intermediate the ends of said annular wall portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, a plurality of wall sections integrally formed on said radial wall section and spaced radially outwardly of said tirst wall portion and extending toward said open end of said lirst wall portion, whereby theopen end of said annular housing is adapted to be received between said first and second annular wall portions and frctionally engaged therebetween, and a pair of integrally formed lugs locatedv intermediate a respective wall section and joining said tirst wall portion to a respectivev section and spaced from said radial wall section for preventing loss of frictionalengagement between said housing and'said insulator andeng'aging either said T or I type slots for providing a interlock between said housing and-insulator.

5. 'A vlainp socket a's's'eiibly frfengagementwth V an annular lamp housing'adaptedito'be iitint aip'anel' opening and hayingan open endwith axiallyjextending either-"l` ''r J `-slots Vini-'the wall of said housing at'- f 4said pen'fend;theimprovement-comprisingeacup-shapedj insulator having a-tirstannular-walleportionwithaueopn end, anintera'l metal sleeve fixed to :said insulator for carrying a lamp in said open end, means including said sleeve for extending electrical connections through said insulator to said lamp, an external 'radial wall section integrally formed on said lirst wall portion intermediate the ends of said lir'st annular wall portion, a second annular wall portion spaced radially outwardly of said irst portion and integrally formed on said radial wall section with mid second wall portion having slots therein and overlapping the open end of said first wall portion, whereby the open end of said annular housing is adapted to be guided for receipt between said tirst and second annular wall portions and Africtionally engaged therebetweenl with said slots permitting tlexure of said second wall portion for receiving said housing, and integrally formed lugs joining said trst and second wall portions and spaced both intermediate said slots and from said radial wall section for preventing loss of frictional engage,-l

- ment between said housing and said wall portions and engaging either said T or I type slots for providing a mechanical interlock between said'housing and insulator.

6. The assembly claimed in claim 5 in which said lugs each have a diameter substantially three times their length.

7. The assembly claimed in claim 5 in-which said radial wall section has passageways therein for facilitating the movement of a mold section therethrough to enable integral molding of said lugs and wall portions without mold side cores. Y

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,122 12/ 1932 Lavarack 24U-152 X 2,784,398 5/ 1957 Mysse 339-125 X 2,789,206 4/1957 Le Van et al 339-188 X J'OHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner, 

